Swell louver action for organs



June 18, 1935. H. WILLIS Er AL SWELL LOUVER ACTION FOR RGANS 2Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 2, 1934 INVENTORS HENRY W ILL IS B AUBREYTHOMPSON-ALLEN ATTORNEY June 18, 1935. H, WILLIS ET AL SWELL LOUVERACTION FCR ORGANS Filed Feb. 2, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 18,1935 UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE SWELL LOUVER ACTION FOR ORGANS HenryWillis and Aubrey Thompson-Allen, London, England Application February2, 1934, Serial No. 709,527 In Great Britain September 8, 1933 17Claims.

5 swell louvers or shades of organs by electrical Sol connectionsbetween the organ and a detached console so as to obtain a perfectcrescendo and diminuendo over any desired period of time without steps,stations or jerks in the opening or closing of the louvers such occurwhen all the louvers of a swell box are moved step by step, or when thelouvers are moved in succession singly or in groups. This inventionprovides means whereby the organist may change the positions of thelouvers by an uninterrupted gra-dual progressive movement of the sameaway from the closed towards the open position, or vice versa. byoperating pedal or like member. The movement of the louvers may, will,be made as quickly or as slowly is desired. The louvers may be checkedin their movement at any point, so that the positions in which thelouvers can be brought to rest is not limited to a given number ofpredetermined points. The louvers when checked at the desired pointremain locked or stationary until again put in motion by an appropriatemovement of the controlling device.

Heretofore the louvers of swell boxes have been moved or adjusted bymechanical connections to vary the volume of the sound from time to timeor progressively for a time variable at will, to obtain a crescendo ordiminuendo of the volume of the sound from the organ pipes in the swellbox. In small organs where the console is placed close to the organ, amechanical transmission of motion from the swell pedal to the louversmay be practicable. However, in a large organ, where there is a largeand heavy set of louvers to be moved, a mechanical transmission isimpracticable, partly owing to the inertia which has to be overcome inorder to move the louvers and the diiculty of checking by an opposingforce the momentum of the louvers when they have been set in motion, sothat complete control over such momentum cannot be conveniently attainedby the force which can be applied by the foot of the organist acting ona pedal, and therefore the control which can be exerted on the nature ofthe perfomance of a crescendo for diminuendo passage is limited. Again,when dealing with an organ with a detached console, (such as a churchorgan having the console placed on the opposite side of the chancel orin some other place remote from where the swell box is placed) it israrely possible to obtain a satisfactory mechanical connection betweenthe console and the swell box, apart from the fact that if this ispossible there is still some inconvenience in the case of a large swellbox arising from inertia and momentum, as above mentioned.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional View of a chamber enclosing a motorfor actuating the swell louvers of an organ in accordance with thisinvention.

Figure 2 saine.

shows a transverse section of the Figure 3 is a detail view of acontrolling or swell pedal arranged to close electrical contactseffecting the setting of valves selectively admitting air to the saidmotor, and

Figure 4 is an end view of the blades serving as the electricalcontacts.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, I0 is a wind motor comprising a movableboard II enclosed in a chamber I2, the interior space within the motor Ibeing in open communication through an aperture I3 with another chamberI4. rIhe movable board II has a rod I5 secured thereto and guided at oneend in a packed guide I6 provided on a wall of the chamber I2.

This rod I5, which movement of the louvers.

Wind is admitted to the chambers I2 and I4 through a series ofvalve-controlled ducts opening into the chamber I2 through orifices 2|,and

into the chamber I4 through orifices 22.

Each

group of orifices 2|, 22 comprises orices of different cross-sectionalarea. A suitable arrangement of valve 23 for controlling the passage ofwind from a Wind chest 24 through a duct 25 to a corresponding orice 2I,or 22, is shown ln Figure 2, and all the ducts of the orifices 2|, 22may be provided with similarly arranged valves. The valve 23 issupported by a iiexible diaphragm 26 attached at its edges to a bridge21, and a spring 28 urges the valve to its closed position. A rod 29attached to the valve extends through a hole in the wall of the duct 25and carries a washer or disc 3|JA adjustable onv the rod to limitPressure in an oriiice 22 into the chamber i4.

the wind chest 24 acts also on the inner side of the diaphragm 23,through a port 3l in a box 33 open at its ends to the wind chest 24, andthrough a duct 32 which can be put in communication with the portthrough a valve 3ft. W'hen the Valve 34 is moved to its closed positiona valve 35 carried on the same rod opens to put the duct 32 incommunication. with the atmosphere and the pressure in the chest 24acting on the diaphragm 26 then opens the valve 23 against the spring28. The valve 34 is closed by the operation of an electromagnetic devicehereinafter described acting in any convenientmanner to effect movementof the rod carrying the valves 34, 35. When the valve 35 is closed andthe valve 34 opened, wind pressure on both sides ci the diaphragm 2t isbalanced and the valve 23, .is held closed by thespring 28.

The electrical circuits for individually controlling the several valves23 comprise contacts in the form of spring blades, each contact beingappropriated to a corresponding valve, and these contacts are arrangedin two groups, Figures 3 and 4, a spring contact 3E is provided for eachvalve in a duct 23 opening through an oririce 2I into the chamber I2 anda spring contact 31 is provided for each Valve opening through One setoi contacts 33 are mounted on one side ci a bar 33 while the other setof contacts 3l' are mounted on the other side of this bar. There is thusprovided between the two sets or contacts, a space in which a conductorbar 33 can be moved. This conductor bar is carried on a slide bar i3attached to a swell pedal @I pivotally mounted on a pin 42 and movableby the foot of the organist between the extreme positions indicated inbroken lines. A link 43 attached to the pedal di! at one end issupported at its other end between springs 44, 45 which urge the pedalto a central or neutral position and thus move the bar 39 to a positionbetween and out of contact with all the contacts 3G, 31 which arearranged at different distances from the bar 39 when the latter is inits central or neutral position so that the circuits through thecontacts or" the group 36 or the group 3| are closed in succession andcumulatively as the bar is moved in either one or the other direction.The position oi each contact may be adjusted by means of a correspondingscrew 46 so as to vary, as may be required, the distance through whichthe bar 39, after contacting with one blade, must be moved before itmakes contact with the next in order. lWhen the pedal is pressed by thetoe of the organist the bar 39 closes the circuit or circuits throughone or more of the contacts 33 according to the distance through whichthe pedal is moved and similarly when pressed by the heel of theorganist, one or more of the circuits through the contacts 31 is closed.When pressure is not being exerted by either the heel. or toe of theorganist, the springs 44, 45 as the case may be, return the pedal to aneutral position and the bar 39 is carried away from the contacts 35, 31so that all the circuits through these contacts are open and at suchtimes the valves 34, 35 fall by gravity to positions (Figure 2) suchthat the pressure on each diaphragm 23 is balanced and the valves 23 areclosed by the springs 28.

TheA valves 34, 35 can be raised, by energizing an electromagneticdevice 35a, so vthat the valve 34 closes the port 3l. The duct 32 isthus opened to the atmosphere by the opening of the valve 35, and windin the chest 24 acting on the diaphragm 26 then opens the valve 23 toadmit wind to the duct 25.

The electric leads connecting the contacts 36, 31 to the electromagnetsfor moving the rods carrying the valves 313, 35, the electromagnetsthemselves and a source supplying electric energy to the circuits can bearranged in any suitabe man-` ner and comprise parts of any suitableconstruction, the wiring of these parts not presenting any difficultyand not requiring any precautions not usually taken in electricalinstallations of a simple and common character so that detailedillustration of the same is unnecessary.

Each chamber I2, I4 is provided with an exhaust valve 41 carried on adiaphragm 48 and is urged to its closed position by a spring 49. A duct59 leads from a chamber 5I in which the spring is arranged and a valve(not shown) is `provided in the said duct. When, by movement of the bar39, the valve controlling any orifice 2l is opened by theelectromagnetic device to admit wind to the chamber I2, the valve in thecorresponding duct 59 is set by an electrically operated device, forexample, in the same circuit to admit wind to its chamber I and thevalve 41 is held rrniy on its seat by the pressure acting on thediaphragm 48, assisting the spring 49, thus preventing escape of airpast this valve. At rthis time all the orices 22 opening into thechamber it are closed and the valve of the corresponding duct 59 is set'to put its spring chamber 5I in communication with the atmosphere sothat air pressure in the said chamber is reduced and allows the valve 41to be opened by the wind in the chamber i4 overcoming the spring 49.Thus the board I I can be moved by wind entering the chamber I2, as thechamber I4 is emptied. Similarly when any oriiice 22 is opened thecorresponding exhaust valve 41 is held closed and the exhaust from thechamber I2 can open.

When the chambers I2, I4 are not receiving air through any of the orices2i, 22 the exhaust Valves 41 are held against their seats by the springs49. On the return of the bar 39 to its central position after any of theoriices 2I, 22` have been opened by contact of this bar with any of thecontacts 36, 31 all the orices 2 I 22 are closed and the exhaust valves41 are held closed by their springs, and if at this time the louvers arein motion the momentum of the moving parts is checked by the attenuationof the air in one of the chambers I2, I 4. The movement is thus arrestedwithout shock by the air cushion, and the louvers will remain in theposition in which they are brought to rest until one or another of theorifices 2|, 22 is opened again to move the board II.

When it is desired that the louvers shall be entirelyclosed, in order toensure that the felt faces thereof shall be under compression and notmerely resting in contact with their seatings, an orifice 54 is providedto admit Wind to the chamber I4 under the control of a valveopened bythe closing of an electrical circuit including a contact 55 carried onthe 1everI9 and' a stationary contact 53. Simultaneously with theopening of the orice 54, wind may be admitted to the corresponding duct53 to ensure the closure of the corresponding exhaust valve, whilst thevalve of the ducty 53 corresponding to the chamber I2 is open to theatmosphere so thatthe exhaust valve of the chamber I2 can open againstthe thrust of the spring 49. The wind admitted to the chamber I 4l thuskeeps the louvers rmly shut.

So long as the circuit through the contacts 55,

56 is closed, opening ofthe louvers is impeded by the air entering thechamber |4 through the orice 54. In order to break the circuit throughthe contacts 55, 56 as soon as one of the orifices 2| is opened, Wind issimultaneously admitted to the chamber 5| through the duct 5U, and asmall motor 51 is moved by wind admitted through the duct 581170 effectthe opening of a switch in the same circuit as the contacts 55, 56 withthe result that the orifice 54 closes and remains closed so long as anyof the orices admitting wind to the chamber l2 remains open.

The rod |9a moved by the plate affords a means for moving the louverspositively in both directions. The provision of a number of separateorices allows the speed of movement of the plate to be varied asrequired, the control being further assisted by providing orifices ofprogressively increasing crossesectional area in the order in which theorices are opened by closing the bar 39 successively on the springcontacts 36, 31. When only one orice 2|, 22 is open, the chambersupplied with wind through this orifice is filled slowly with aconsequent slow movement of the plate By opening more than one orice ata time the rate of admission of air is increased and the plate i ismoved more quicky.

If the pedal 4| is moved in one or the other direction from its centralor neutral position so as to cause the bar 39 to make contact with onlyone of the spring contacts 36, 31, whilst the organ is being played, thelouvers will move slowly anda slow crescendo or diminuendo effect 'willbe obtained. If the pedal is at any time allowed to return to itscentral position the louvers will remain inthe positions they havereached at the moment the pedal is thus moved. By moving the pedal so asto close all the contacts 36, or 31, quickly or simultaneously, thelouvers will be moved quickly so that a forte or piano volume of soundissues from the swell box.

By reason of the movements of the louvers being controlled byelectro-pneumatic action there is no tendency of the operative parts tobind or stick as may happen when the pedal acts on the louvers through amechanical connection, .and the louversl are opened or closed in anuninterrupted or regular progressive movement which is arrested withoutshock by reason of the cushioning eiect of the air in the chambers |2,I4.

We claim:

1. An action for effecting movement oi swellv louvers in organs,comprising a Wind chest, a wind motor, a series of ducts admitting windfrom the wind chest to the wind motor, valves respectively controllingthe passage of Wind through each duct, and individually controlled meansfor opening and closing the said valves in a successive order.

2. An action for eiecting movement of swell louvers in organs,comprising a wind chest, a wind motor including a movable board, aseries of ducts admitting Wind from the wind chest to move the saidboard in one direction, a series of ducts admitting Wind from the windchest to move the said board in the opposite direction, valvesrespectively controlling the passage of wind through each duct, andmeans for opening in succession the valves corresponding to one seriesof ducts while the valves corresponding to the other series of ducts areheld closed.

3. An action for effecting movement of swell louvers in organs,comprising a wind chest, a wind motor, a valve opened by wind from thewind chest for admitting wind to the motor, a. springr for closing thevalve, and means for reducing the air pressure acting on the same sideof the valve as the said spring in order to allow the valve to= louversin organs, comprising a wind chest, a

Wind motor, ducts admitting wind from the Wind chest to the motor,groups of valves respectively controlling the passage of wind througheach duct, one group of valves operating to eiect movement of the motorin one direction and another group operating to effect movement in theopposite direction, and electrically operated means for effecting theopening of the valves of one group While the valves of the other groupremain closed.

An action for effecting movement of swell louvers in organs, comprisinga Wind chest, a wind motor, ducts admitting wind from the said windchest to the motor, groups oi' valves respectively controlling thepassage of Wind through each. duct, one group of valves operating toeffect movement oi the motor in one direction and another groupoperating to effect movement in the opposite direction, and electricallyoperated means for opening the valves of either group while those oi`the other group remain closed, including circuit closing contacts foreifecting the opening oi the valves, the said contacts being arranged ingroups corresponding to the groups of valves.

7. An action for effecting movement of swell louvers in organs,comprising a wind chest, a wind motor, ducts admitting wind fromthefsaid wind chest tothe motor, valves respectively controlling thepasage of wind through each duct, electrically operated means including'circuit closing contacts for effecting movement of the valves, aContact bar having the said contacts arranged in groups on oppositesides thereof, and means urging the said bar to a position between thesegroups out of contact with all the said circuit closing contacts.

8. An action for eiecting movement of swell louvers in organs,comprising a wind chest, a wind motor, ducts admitting wind from thesaid wind chest to the motor, valves respectively controlling tliepassage of wind through each duct, electrically operated means includingcircuit closing contacts for effecting movement of the valves and anoscillatory contact bar having the said contacts arranged in groups onopposite sides thereof, the individual contacts of each group beingvariously spaced from the bar when the latter is in a position betweenthese groups out of contact with all the said circuit closing contacts.

9. An action for effecting movement of swell louvers, in organs,comprising a wind chest, a Wind motor, ducts admitting wind from thesaid wind chest to the motor, valves respectively controlling thepassage of Wind through each duct, electrically operated means includingcircuit closing contacts for effecting movement of the valves, anoscillatory contact bar having the said contacts arranged in groups onopposite sides thereof, and means for adjusting individual contacts todifferent positions away from the bar when the latter is in a centralposition. 1

10. An action for effecting movement of swell louvers in organscomprising a reciprocatory member operative to control the admission ofwind to a wind motor, means including an electric circuit and 'circuitclosing contacts for effecting movement of the said member, anoscillatory contact bar having the said contacts arranged in groups on-oposite sides thereof, the individual contacts of each group beingvariously spaced from the bar when the latter is in a central positionout of contact with all the said circuit closing contacts, and means formoving the bar away from its central position to make contactsuccessively with the circuit closing contacts on the side towards whichit is thus moved,

11. An action for effecting movement of swell louvers in organs,comprising a wind chest, a wind motor, including amovable board, aseries of ducts of different cross-sectional areas for admitting windfrom thewind chest to the wind motor, and means for admitting windthrough a series of the ducts opened in succession at will, to controlthe speed of movement of the said movable board.

12. An action for eiecting movement of swell louvers in organs,comprising a wind chest, a wind motor including a movable board, aseries of ducts for admitting wind from the wind chest to the windmotor, means for admitting wind through a series of ducts, and means foropening the said ducts for the passage of wind inv o a predeterminedorder.

louvers in organs, comprising a wind chest, a, wind motor including twochambers, a series of ducts forming separate communications between` thewind chest and the said chambers, an exhaust valve for each chamberurged towards its seat b y a spring and means for supplementing thespring by wind supplied from the wind chest.

15. An action for enecting movement of swell louvers in organscomprising a wind chest, a wind motor including a movable board,separate series of ducts admitting wind to the motor to move the saidboard in opposite directions re- `series of ducts admitting wind to themotor to move the said board in opposite directions respectively, valvesrespectively controlling the passage of` wind through the said ducts,means for opening the said valves in order to effect movement of theboard in either direction and a supplementary duct and valve operated onthe arrival of the board in one extreme position to maintain the boardin this position.

17. An action for eecting movement of swell louvers in organs,comprising a wind chest, a wind motor including a movabley board, valvedducts for admitting wind to the motor to move the said board in oppositedirections respectively, a supplementary valved duct opened by thearrival of the board in one extreme position to maintain the board inthis position and means for closing the said supplementary duct in orderto release the said board.

HENRY WILLIS.

AUBREY THOMPSON-ALLEN.

